Construction of cupboards convertible into tables



June -9 JOSE /EGA URDANOZ 3,388,575

CONSTRUCTION OF CUPBOARDS COVERTIBLE INTO TABLES Filed Oct. 5, 1966 4 Sheets-Sneet l E 5o I JOSE VEGA URDANOZ June 18, 1968 CONSTRUCTION OF CUPBOARDS COVERTIBLE INTO TABLES Filed Oct. 5, 1966 4 Sheet-Sheet 2 INVENTOR JOSE VEGA URDANOZ June 18, 1953 JOSE VEGA URDANOZ 3,

CONSTRUCTION OF CUPBOAHDS COVERTIBLE INTO TABLES 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 5, 1966 J1me 1968 JOSE VEGA URDANOZ 3,

CONSTRUCTION OF CUPBOARDS COVERTIBLE INTO TABLES Filed Oct. 5, 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 United States Patent 3,388,676 CONSTRUCTION OF CUPBOARDS CONVERTIBLE INTO TABLES Jos Vega Urdanoz, Urnieta, Spain, assignor to Manufacturing Vega S.A., Urnieta, Spain Filed Oct. 3, 1966, Ser. No. 583,735 7 Claims. (Cl. 108-38) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLGSURE A cupboard wherein a frame is provided with a door closing the front thereof. A framework to which said door is fastened is mounted within said frame so that it may pivot upon horizontal axes. The framework comprises arms and bars pivotally connected to the door framework and frame so that when the door is moved outwardly to form a table it is spaced away from the frame of the cupboard and is also unobstructed underneath the door.

This invention refers to improvements in or relating to the construction of cupboards convertible into tables, wherein by the effect of an extension combined with an oscillation, the door or doors of said cupboards are converted into a horizontal table top or tops.

An object of the invention is to provide a construction wherein the door or doors of a cupboard are used for a table-top having advantages such as securing a table with larger useful dimensions which may be used from three sides instead of from one side only as offered by the shelftype table, and may be used with less hindrance owing to its free jutting out without any supporting legs beneath the same.

A further object is to provide an extensible articulated system in such a manner that the door or doors that are linked by a rigid frame to one of the extremities of a deformable parallelogram, by means of a combined movement of extension and oscillation become converted into a horizontal tabletop.

With the above and other objects in view which will become apparent from the detailed description below, a preferred construction is shown in the drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 shows a perspective view of a cupboard frame.

FIGURE 2 also in perspective shows a wooden door, preferentially dressed with plywood, and in which the corresponding notches have been made for the reception of the hinges.

FIGURE 3 shows a perspective View of the articulation and supporting mechanism for the movement of a door or doors.

FIGURES 4, 5, 6 and 7 show vertical side sections of four phases in succession of the extension and oscillation of the sustaining mechanism and the movement of the door or doors, from the door phase to the table phase.

FIGURE 8 shows in perspective the two U pieces whose engagement forms the short frame and basic for sustentation.

FIGURE 9 shows in perspective the short frame mounted.

FIGURE 10 shows a schematic representation of the forces developed on the different elements in the case herein chosen as an example.

FIGURE 11 shows a scheme of the forces in the case where the supporting angle exceeds ninety degrees; and

FIGURE 12 shows in perspective a spring for facilitating the extension movement of the articulated parallelogram.

Referring to the framework represented in FIG. 1, the articulated mechanism represented in the FIG. 3 is introduced therein .whose fixed vertical bars D are joined re- 3,388,676 Patented June 18, 1968 spectively to the cupboard to the posteriorly situated vertical Ion-g members by screws at the points 5c, while the horizontal fixed bars F of the mechanism are respectively joined by screws at the points 50 at the lower part of the cupboard frame through the orifices If in the same bars F.

The deformable parallelogram whose fixed base is formed by the bars D and F consists of articulated arms constituted by the union of two bars B and B joined pivotally at the points Ib, and joined also pivotally at their free extremities at the points 217 of the rigid frame A of the door or doors. These articulated arms B and B form the upper side of the deformable parallelogram and move scissors-like toward the interior region of their angle, but cannot open in an obtuse angle due to the overlapping of the pieces B on the pieces B which prevents said angle from being increased once have been attained.

The lower side of the deformable parallelogram is constituted by the bars E pivotally mounted on the points 2c of the fixed bars F at one and the other extremities of same which are also pivotally mounted on the short frame C at the points 2c in same. These short frames C that are formed by the engagement of two U pieces represented in FIG. 8, are provided when mounted (FIG. 9) with a limiting stop in which prevents the bars E, pivotally mounted with them at the points 2c from continuing to turn upon arrival at the vertical position of the short frames C.

These frames C are solidly joined by screws or welding to the rigid frame of the door or doors A at points 10, so that they rigidly follow all the movements of said frame A.

In order that the deformable lateral planes formed by the articulations of the bars F, E and C maintain the necessary great rigidity for their mission of fulcrum for the forces applied to the horizontal door or doors table when the doors serve as such, a tiebar G is welded to bars B.

As previously stated, the rigid frame of the door or doors A carry pivotally mounted the bars B at the points 2b, and rigidly mounted the short frames C at the points 10, while the door hinges are screwed to the frame at points Ia, the doors being of wood but preferably of plywood on the outside which side forms the table when in a horizontal position.

This frame A is fixed to the cupboard framework in the vertical position of the doors, by means of a bolt I (FIG. 4) which actuates on the bar K of said frame preventing the frame A, the doors and the extensible mechanism from rocking on the point 20, not only by the action of the weight of the doors which favourably influences the pivoting in this direction, but by the action of the spring (FIG. 12) situated on the axis of rotation Ib Having described the mechanism, we will now see the emission of each element considered as an active individual at the moment of the extension, oscillation and posterior horizontal position as table top, as also how the forces are developed at this moment.

If by means of a lever or exterior button or just by opening the doors or door of the cupboard the bolt J is opened, these doors as also the mechanism to which they are united by means of their hinges, start rocking and adopt the position shown in FIG. 5 which is the limiting position, seeing that it is determined by the stop on the short frame C with the bottom of the U that constitutes the bar B, while on the other hand the articulation formed by the bars B and B holds the frame through the point 2b in collaboration to restrain the fall.

If in this position by means of a small manual force applied by the user for example in the middle zone of the vertical border at the point I in the FIG. 5 he pulls the frame, this will move deforming the articulated parallelogram, which movement is assisted by the action of the spring (FIG. 12) situated in the articulations Ib and 20, which double action manual and spring oblige the elements to move by turning about the axes 2c and 20' until the final position shown in FIG. 7 is reached, in which position the door or doors take up a horizontal position constituting the tabletop.

Upon reaching this position the box stop in of the short frame C, strikes against the bar E and prevents further movement.

We see from FIG. 6 that shows an intermediate position of the movement, that when the articulation B and B reach the limiting position, that is to say both bars in prolongation, point 2c pivots on centre 2b, while this latter pivots on centre Id until the limiting position described in the previous paragraph is attained.

When the tabletop is in this horizontal table position, a pressure or weight applied at any point of the tabletop will tend to make the point 211 describe an are around 20, seeing that, as will be seen from the scheme represented in the FIG. 10 in which it has been supposed that the angle BB, 212, 2c, is less than 90, the rigid frame A or in other words the tabletop constitutes a lever of the first order whose fulcrum is situated in 2c. The force of P similarly and oppositely and tangentially directed to the arc of pivoting with centre in and ratio 20, 2b, force that is decomposed at P' neutralized by the inher ent rigidity of BB in prolongation, and materialized by F and another component B which actuates in an opposite direction to the movement of the point 2b holding the tabletop blocked in the horizontal position whatever be the weight applied to the tabletop. This is the case in which this invention is realized.

FIGURE 11 shows the case in which the angle BB, 2b, 2c is greater than 90, in which the resultant R favours the displacement of the point 2b with the result that the mechanism is not blocked. This case is rejected in the construction.

I claim:

1. A cupboard comprising a frame having closing planes at its front, sides, and bottom, a door closing the entire front plane of said frame, a framework mounted in said frame upon which said door is fastened, means for moving said door and framework from said frame pivoting on horizontal axes, said means extending transversely and being displaceable parallel to said side planes until said door reaches a horizontal position out of and spaced from said frame and spaced at a distance from said bottom plane so that said door may be used as a completely stabilized ready-for-use table.

2. A cupboard as set forth in claim 1 wherein said framework has two rear mounting elements connected longitudinally by a first U-sectioned bar, a second U-sectioned crossed bar connected to said first bar forming a square with said first bar.

3. A cupboard as set forth in claim 2 wherein said framework comprises a system of levers capable of occupying the following positions: one bar with an end articulated to a point of the second bar being a point of articulation near the lower end of said second bar and being directed obliquely to the upper plane of the framework; another similar bar, being one of the extremes articulated to a point of said bar in U being situated obliquely and being this point of articulation near the upper extreme of this last one and being guided lightly horizontally, in order to articulate the other extreme in a point of the frame fastened to the door or doors, to the upper extreme of the corresponding side of the frame; a bar With its inner extreme articulated in a point of the inner fixed horizontal bar being this one guided to the top and to the back, to articulate its upper extreme to a framework formed by two rectangular plates showing a flange on each longitudinal edge, to be embedded mutually as a horizontal box, which back zone receives the referred articulation, while at the front extremity it repins to the corresponding side of the holdingdoor frame.

4. A cupboard as set forth in claim 2 wherein said first bar is slightly horizontal due to its articulation with said second bar, being articulated at the lower side to a corresponding rear vertical rigid bar thereby forcing said second bar to form withsaid first bar an angle increasing gradually in its amplitude of obtuse angle thereby entraining at the same time, said framework articulated at the back to a lower bar articulated to the corresponding lower fixed horizontal bar, the frame and door occupy initially a different position at the front of said framework being more separated at the upper end than at the lower end, due to the rigid union of said framework to said frame, being able to lift the whole frame and door, taking it by its lower part, so that it overturns on the articulation of said framework to the oblique bar, which will pass from its inner obliquity to the outer obliquity and at the same time, the upper bars will widen the obtuse angle until remaining in a mutual rigid prolongation limited by the bar of a counter section in the other bar and the extremity of these two bars in the mutual prolongation will be the support shaft, which will be displaceable downwards, according to the overturning upwards of the lower zone of the whole framework, until remaining in a horizontal position as a working table.

5. A cupboard as set forth in claim 2 wherein said framework in the final vertical position of said framework fastened to the sides of said frame, and being rigidly extended the articulated upper bars, the angle of said rigid prolongation with the line uniting its articulation to the frame of the door with the point of articulation of the framework to its articulated bar to the cor responding fixed horizontal lower bar, is below so that any weight upon said door table, working with a lever, will overturn the point of articulation of said rigid prolongation of bars around the referred point of articulation of the framework under a similar force and guided opposed to the table tangent to an arc of radius, which force will finish in a neutralized element due to the proper rigidity of said bars in mutual prolongation and another element actuating in an opposed sense to the movement of said upper articulation point, obtaining thus the stability.

6. A cupboard as set forth in claim 2 wherein said framework has inlaid hinges for said door of plywood on the outer surface and a spiral spring in the articulation of the upper bars, articulated in an obtuse angle increasing until letting the bars extend in a prolongation thereby avoiding said door being taken olf involuntarily from the front of said framework.

7. A cupboard as set forth in claim 2 wherein said bars are articulated at the lower part to the sides of said framework and their displacements are harmonized by a transverse bar disposed at the lower zone welded at the ends to said bars which are articulated at the upper zone to said framework.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 528,932 11/1894 Ellison 108-38 1,464,352 8/1923 Cox 3l23l5 X 1,491,699 4/ 1924 Hamilton 3l2325 X 1,883,504 11/1932 Bolles 10838 X 2,170,098 8/1939 Stephenson 3l2325 X 2,547,382 4/1951 Freeman 108--1 12 2,886,394 5/1959 Snyder 312276 BOBBY R. GAY, Primary Examiner.

GLENN O. FINCH, Assistant Examiner. 

